08 January 2009

I will start by saying this: we are depraved. Yes. All of us, human beings (you and me): we are depraved. What does it mean to be depraved? We are fallen. Yes, by nature, we are fallen. We are finite. And we are fallible. We are imperfect: we grow weak and weary. We run out of energy. We become pooped (and we become poop. Really, we all do.). We make mistakes. We are low-down, dirty, good for nothings. We do not know it all. In fact, we know nothing at all. Again, all of us, yes, every single last one of us has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God: we are intrinsically, and inherently bound to failure: we are sinful, wicked, and worthless.

(The following is best read out loud and performed with that southern drawl.)

But God. Oh boy, let's talk about God: He is perfect. He is holy. He is infinite. He knows all. He sees all. He created all. All we see and know: He created. All we grasp and hold: He created. (I am going to capitalize the H in He so as not to get you all confused about which He I am speaking of: the one and only He worth mentioning). Now, God: He never grows weak nor weary. His breath is never short. He never runs out of steam. He keeps going and going. And now God: He ain't never failed us. Even when we are unfaithful, even when we fall short of His glory, even when we fail, betray, or back-stab Him: He remains faithful. He is worthy.

Oh yes, and now God: He is love. Everything he has ever done (from the very beginning, even as we look back to the Old Testament and on) has been because he loved us. He has had a redemptive, saving plan from the very beginning. And He demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He is our strength when we are weak. He is our help in time of need. He is our strong fortress, and the rock of our salvation. He is our deliverer. He is our provider. And He is our protector. He is our comfort, and refuge, and rescue.

If God is for us, who can beagainst us?He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isn't God funny? Isn't that a funny way to encourage us? To love us? We are not who we are because of what we do. Our worth is not found in our actions. Instead, we are made worthwhile by God the Father who sent his son Jesus to die for us: we are made worthy because God paid the price for us. Our worth is not found in ourselves (for if it were: we would be worthless). No, instead God tells us we are worth it: for our worth is found in Jesus. Because of this, we are priceless. Because we are His beloved.